Chapter 8

Ngern grinned, clearly pleased, and passed Jes the camera with one hand while still cradling Mali in the other. Jes took it, glancing between the sleek device in his hands and the tiny human currently sucking on her own fist.

Jes had captured a lot of subjects before—landscapes, street photography, portraits of people when they weren't looking—but a baby? This was way out of his comfort zone.

He adjusted the camera settings automatically, sighing. "She won't stay still."

"That's the fun of it," Ngern said, shifting Mali to rest against his chest. "Think of it as a challenge."

Jes shot him a flat look. "This is not what I agreed to."

"But you didn't leave."

Jes pursed his lips, choosing not to dignify that with a response. Instead, he lifted the camera and peered through the viewfinder.

Mali blinked at him, her round face filled with innocent curiosity.

Jes exhaled and pressed the shutter.

Click.

"See? Not so bad," Ngern said. "She's a natural."

Jes checked the shot. It was... decent. The lighting from the soft apartment lamps gave it a warm tone, and Mali's expression was undeniably adorable. He frowned, adjusting the settings before taking another.

Click.

This time, the result was even better—her tiny hand was reaching up, barely brushing Ngern's chin as he smiled down at her.

Jes stared at it for a moment before lowering the camera.

"She really likes you," Jes murmured before he even realized he was speaking.

Ngern glanced at him. "Of course she does. I'm her favorite uncle."

Jes scoffed, but it was hard to argue when Mali let out a happy babble, curling a hand into Ngern's hoodie.

"Okay," Ngern said, bouncing her lightly. "Your turn."

Jes frowned. "What?"

"Hold her."

Jes immediately took a step back. "Absolutely not."

"Come on," Ngern teased. "It'll make for a great shot. I promise."

Jes hesitated, glancing at the baby. Mali blinked up at him again, unfazed by the fact that he was very much unqualified to hold a child.

Ngern held out his arms expectantly.

Jes groaned. "I hate this."

But, against all logic, he took a step forward.

Jes moved stiffly, unsure of how to even start.

Ngern chuckled. "Relax. She's not going to break."

"You say that, but she's, like, tiny," Jes muttered, hesitating before finally, awkwardly, holding his arms out.

"Okay, just support her head," Ngern instructed, gently shifting Mali into Jes's arms. "Yeah, like that—"

Jes immediately tensed. The baby was warm and soft, and somehow way heavier than he expected for something so small. She squirmed slightly, her tiny fingers flexing against the fabric of Jes's hoodie before settling.

Jes did not breathe.

Ngern stepped back, looking at him with amusement. "You look like you're holding a ticking time bomb."

"That's exactly how I feel," Jes muttered, still frozen in place.

But then, Mali let out a small sigh, snuggling a little closer to his chest. Her tiny fingers latched onto the zipper of his hoodie, gripping it with surprising strength.

Jes blinked.

Ngern smirked. "See? She likes you."

Jes swallowed, unsure of how to feel about that.

Before he could overthink it, Ngern grabbed the camera. "Alright, stay still. Let's get a picture."

Jes immediately frowned. "No—"

Click.

Jes exhaled sharply. "Ngern—"

Click.

"Stop that."

Click.

Ngern grinned, lowering the camera. "Perfect."

Jes narrowed his eyes. "I swear to God—"

"Relax, Jes," Ngern said, flipping the camera around to show him. "Look."

Jes sighed but leaned in.

And, to his immense frustration, the pictures were... nice.

In one, he looked slightly alarmed, but Mali was completely at peace against him, clutching his hoodie like she trusted him completely.

In another, he was glancing down at her, his expression softer, more uncertain.

Jes stared at it longer than he meant to.

Ngern hummed. "You look good with a baby in your arms."

Jes immediately handed Mali back to him. "We're done."

Ngern laughed. "Come on, don't be shy. You're kind of a natural."

Jes shot him a glare. "Never again."

"Sure, sure," Ngern said, still smirking.

Jes sighed, rubbing his temple. "So, are we actually doing photography practice or was this just some elaborate setup to make me hold a baby?"

"Both?"

Jes groaned, dropping onto the couch. "I hate you."

Ngern just grinned, rocking Mali gently. "Nah. You'll text me again."

Jes scoffed. "Don't count on it."

But Ngern just smiled knowingly.

.....................................................

Jes left Ngern's apartment later than he expected, and he hated to admit that the evening had been... not as awful as he thought it'd be.

Which was dangerous.

Because Ngern was dangerous.

Not in an obvious way, not in a reckless way—but in the way he slipped in too easily. In the way he made Jes forget why he usually kept his distance.

Jes needed distance.

And yet, somehow, he had spent an entire evening in Ngern's apartment, holding a baby, letting Ngern take photos of him, and—worst of all—actually enjoying himself.

It was ridiculous.

And yet...

Jes found himself staring at his phone later that night, eyes lingering on the unread messages from Ngern.

Ngern: Had fun today?

Jes rolled his eyes.

Ngern: Don't lie. I have proof you enjoyed yourself.

Jes groaned, already regretting his life choices. He could already imagine Ngern smirking at his phone.

But instead of leaving it unanswered like he usually would, Jes's fingers moved almost on their own.

Jes: Delete those photos.

A reply came immediately.

Ngern: Never.

Jes stared at the screen, torn between exasperation and amusement.

And then—before he could overthink it—he typed out another message.

Jes: Next time, we're actually doing photography.

He didn't even know why he sent it. Maybe to set the record straight. Maybe to prove to himself that he was still in control of whatever the hell this was.

Or maybe—just maybe—he just wanted to see if Ngern would still be interested in meeting him again if a baby wasn't involved.

Ngern's reply came a moment later.

Ngern: So there's a next time?

Jes groaned, running a hand down his face.

Jes: Forget it.

Ngern: No take-backs.

Jes shut his phone off and tossed it onto the bed.

This was a mistake.

And yet, he couldn't shake the feeling that he'd already made his decision.